Srinagar, Jan 17,: Ladakh continued to reel under intense cold conditions on Saturday, emerging as the coldest region across Jammu and Kashmir, while the Kashmir Valley recorded widespread sub-zero temperatures and the Jammu region witnessed comparatively milder winter weather.
Temperature data compiled by Kashmir Weather showed Drass as the coldest location, where the minimum temperature plunged to minus 9.9 degrees Celsius. Other parts of Ladakh also experienced severe cold, with Hanle recording minus 8.0 degrees, Leh minus 7.0 degrees, Nyoma minus 5.6 degrees and Kargil minus 5.1 degrees. Most areas of the cold desert region remained well below freezing, clearly marking Ladakh as the harshest winter zone.
The Kashmir Valley continued to experience a firm grip of cold with all major stations recording temperatures below the freezing point. Gulmarg and Beerwah Budgam were the coldest in the Valley at minus 4.2 degrees Celsius. Zethan Rafiabad and Sopore recorded minus 3.6 degrees each, while Srinagar registered a minimum of minus 3.2 degrees. Qazigund settled at minus 3.4 degrees, and other areas including Pahalgam, Kupwara, Kokernag and Aloosa Bandipora also remained in sub-zero territory, indicating a widespread cold wave across the Valley.
In contrast, the Jammu region remained relatively warmer. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 4.6 degrees Celsius, while Katra and Kishtwar stood at 7.4 degrees and 7.5 degrees respectively. Banihal recorded 0.6 degrees and Bhaderwah 1.5 degrees. Rajouri was the only station in the region to dip slightly below freezing, recording minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.
The comparative temperature pattern clearly shows Ladakh as the coldest region, followed by Kashmir, while Jammu continues to experience milder winter conditions. [KNT]
